PAEDESTRIAN DIED

Madikeri July 11

B.Nagaraju (52) ,resident of Madikeri succumbed to injuries. A Maruthi Van (No.KA 12 M 9453) was overturned at Kohinoor Road due to the negligence of the driver Mohammad and hit Nagarju who was then shifted to Mangalore Venloc hospital.

The van also dashed an auto which was parked on the roadside. Nagaraj left his wife , two daughters and two sons. The traffic police have seized the van and arrested the driver Mohammad. Mr. Manoj is the owner of the vehicle.

GUN SHOT ON BROTHERS

Madikeri July 11

Napoklu village panchayath member Kannapane Suleiman (26) and Kannapane Ashraf (24) who are brothers were attacked with gunshots. The Kolakeri village residents Rajak, Makki Ali and Yasmin in a group rushed with weapons and attacked the brothers. They triggered off the gun and shot them. However, both of them admitted to the district hospital, Madikeri with serious injuries. Rajak, one of the accused has been arrested and the jeep used for the crime has been seized by the Napoklu Police.

AGITATION WARNED

Madikeri July 11

The district BJP has warned agitation against the Central Govt’s negligence towards the Coffee growers. In the recent budget, nothing has been announced for the benefit of the Coffee Community-the BJP president S.G.Medappa criticized. The agitation would be non political and only protect the interest of the grower community-Mr. Medappa and Mr. K.G.Bopaiah, the Madikeri M.L.A jointly announced. Mr. Appachu Ranjan, the ex. M.L.A also supported the agitation. The new Govt. in the center has raised the Gas and Petroleum rates-added the BJP leaders in a press conference here. The previous Govt. at least had reduced the interest rates on loans borrowed by the coffee growers, but the present Govt. Has completely neglected the coffee region-they criticized.

Rs. 2 LAKH WORTH TEAKWOOD SEIZED

Madikeri July 11

The forest officials Venkatasubbaiah and Rangegwoda have seized Rs. 2 lakh worth teak wood with the help of the forest personnel. In Lorry No. KRC 8423 the teakwood was illegally being transported. The rubber tyres were covered outside to hide the visibility of the wood in the Lorry. However, the forest personnel doubted the material and when searched the truth was revealed. A jeep (No. KA 19 M 4471) followed the lorry to protect the lorry in the illegal act. The forest officials have arrested the lorry driver Vijaya of Cannanore, Kerala State. Another accused Mohammadali has been arrested. They have seized the jeep. The two accused Nazir and Hamsa have been absconding. The jeep has been seiezed. The forest daily wages worker Chandrashekhar and K.M. Ramaiah, the writer in a private estate have also been arrested. The Lorry belongs to Mayin of Iritty, Kerala State. The teakwood logs were being carried from Thora forest area near Virajpet.

The forest officials also doubt the involvement of some influential persons in the crime. The people who arrive to Kodagu from Kerala for ginger cultivation contracts in the local areas will also be engaged in such illegal activities-the forest officials disclosed. The raid was conducted by the forest staff Ponnappa, I.P.Ganapathi, B.M.Aiayappa, K.B.Chandra, T.T.Kushalappa and Seetharam.

MISUSE IN THE COLLEGE: PRINCIAPL SUSPENDED

Madikeri July 11

The misuse of College funds was disclosed during the auditing and the principal was suspended by the education department. M.D.Neelamma, the principal of Napoklu College and the second division clerk H.T.Rekha are facing the allegation of misusing of Rs. 1,50,189 . Now both are suspended. Rs. 28,175 due for Chethana Book House, Mysore was not actually paid,but shown in records. Some other internal funds were also misused by them. Rekha, the clerk was the main lady involved in the case.. She had even changed the figures on the cheques to be given to others.The state education commissioner had ordered for thorough investigation.